Despite the progress in technology and civilization, places such as South Dakota remain harsh environments.
ajh
All posts by aaronjhill
America! What an amazingly beautiful land.
I don’t know where this is, other than the American Southwest. And I don’t know to whom credit should be given. But it’s a beautiful photograph.
ajh
It only took 632 years. Six hundred and thirty-two years!
August 14
August 14, 1248: Construction of the Cologne Cathedral begins. Workers completed it on the same date in 1880.
Musta had a strong, very strong, union.
ajh
One of my Conner relatives, sister of my great grandmother, died from gangrenous appendicitis at sixty.
The stereotype is that appendicitis is a disease affecting the young. I was surprised by her age. The fact is, sadly, that much of what afflicts us humans is a mystery, despite so many advances in science and understanding.
ajh
Did Grandpa Darling ride the first Ferris Wheel?
In 1893 Chicago hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition. There were many inventors and exhibits. Among them was engineer George Ferris who introduced the world to his soon-to-be iconic Ferris Wheel.
The Wheel stood 264 feet high and had a diameter of 250 feet. Each of the structure’s 36 cars could hold 60 to 65 people. Folks stood in long lines to pay 50 cents each to ride on the slowly spinning marvel.
My great-great grandfather was living in the city, in Little Italy. He was studying to become a dentist. My great grandmother was a toddler.
Oh, how I wish I could sit with them both and talk about their memories of this time.
ajh
Thankfully, the Troubles are over, mostly.
My interest stems partly from being a descendant of immigrants from Northern Ireland, Ulster Presbyterians.
ajh
I’ve been wondering about the name August, the Germanic form of Augustus. It is prominent among my maternal grandfather’s family.
My great grandfather was Albert August Fromke. His younger brother was August L. Fromke. Albert’s wife was Augusta Wilhelmina Lentz.
I am hoping to learn about why this was such a strong tradition in Germany. There is many a German prince with the name and a few princesses too.
There’s Augustus the Strong, born in Dresden and elected King of Poland. There’s Augustus the Third, son of Augustus the Strong who also became King of Poland.
Then, there’s Augustus the Younger. He had the largest collection of books and manuscripts north of the Alps. There is Augustus d’Este, a grandson of King George III of Great Britain.
It all goes back to Augustus, Elector of Saxony. And, of course, before him, there was Rome. The first Roman emperor is known as Augustus.
ajh
On the Hunt for Another
I took one of these once and put it up in my apartment. It’s a great poster. I need to get another one. I wonder if any are on eBay. (Yes, yes, I know stealing is wrong. It was a big color copy of the original, from a laser printer, probably from Kinko’s, hanging outside a convenience store.)
ajh
Even Astoria? What a week to go to the beach!
THE HEAT WAVE Extends to the Oregon Coast
I wonder how far this heat goes. Lincoln City? Depoe Bay? What’s it like in Port Orford? Brookings?
ajh
